My Favorites

Monday, November 19, 2018

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but my primary
publisher has gone out of business—they couldn’t succeed in the past business
and publishing environment. I'll keep you informed, but I need a new publisher. More
information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.
Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon.
This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in
installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in
addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel
was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and
tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this
blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example
of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll
keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my
writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production
schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

The four plus one basic rules I
employ when writing:

1. Don't confuse your readers.

2. Entertain your readers.

3. Ground your readers in the
writing.

4. Don't show (or tell) everything.

4a. Show what can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, and tasted on the stage
of the novel.

5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

These are the steps I use to write a
novel including the five discrete parts of a novel:

Here is the cover proposal for Blue
Rose: Enchantment and the Detective.

Cover
Proposal

The most important scene in any
novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising
action. I am continuing to write on my 30th novel, working
title Red Sonja. I finished my 29th novel, working
title Detective. I’m planning to start on number 31, working
title Shifter.

How to begin a novel. Number one thought, we need an entertaining
idea. I usually encapsulate such an idea
with a theme statement. Since I’m writing
a new novel, we need a new theme statement.
Here is an initial cut.

For novel 30: Red Sonja, a Soviet spy, infiltrates the
X-plane programs at Edwards AFB as a test pilot’s administrative clerk, learns
about freedom, and is redeemed.

For novel 31: TBD

Here
is the scene development outline:

1.
Scene input (comes from the previous scene output or is an initial scene)

4.
Write the scene using the output and creative elements to build the tension.

5.
Write the release

6.
Write the kicker

Today: I’m off to Japan and
actually Tokyo again. This time I’m
going to see my son and daughter-in-law again, but with the addition of a brand
new granddaughter Rinley.

We
are here. I’ll note the food was better
and selected better. The last meal was
either eggs or oriental chicken and rice.
The problem was our crew especially the SfH (stewardess from He double
toothpicks)—she screwed up the meals again and left us with potentially no
omelets. They had to get it from the
economy cabin. The oriental meal was
okay and easier to eat than the Delta last meal. I should mention the SfH also messed up the
meals of the low-fat folks ahead of us.
The SfH thought the solution was to give the guy a piece of bread. Low class and poor server, but he flight was
okay. We arrived not too worn out. Then we had to negotiate immigration,
customs, and find our bus.

Immigration
was great. They saw our military IDs and
Yokota AFB destination and pushed us right through. I kept telling them we weren’t on official
orders, but they didn’t care. They were
just so nice to us. Nice and
helpful. Customs was the same. They just passed us through when they saw our
destination and IDs. Then we had to find our bus to Yokota AFB.

We
had a map and directions, but the officials weren’t exactly the best
informed. The problem is committing to
walking for a while to get to the map location.
After a single moment of indecision, I just took the lead and headed
out. We headed down the map and found
busses. Those guys know exactly where to
go—a few steps further and we found the bus.
$40 US dollars each later and we were on the bus for a three hour ride
to Yokota. I was looking for Eagle Jump
the whole time, but that’s an Anime reference (it doesn’t exist for real).

The
bus ride was fun, and I tried to keep watch and stay awake for the entire
time. We arrived at the base gate and
met our daughter-in-law and new grandbaby.
Then we waited for at least 2200 to go to sleep although I was nodding
off. My son was night flying but he didn’t
get back until I was asleep.

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but my primary
publisher has gone out of business—they couldn’t succeed in the past business
and publishing environment. I'll keep you informed, but I need a new publisher. More
information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.
Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon.
This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in
installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in
addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel
was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and
tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this
blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example
of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll
keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my
writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production
schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

The four plus one basic rules I
employ when writing:

1. Don't confuse your readers.

2. Entertain your readers.

3. Ground your readers in the
writing.

4. Don't show (or tell) everything.

4a. Show what can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, and tasted on the stage
of the novel.

5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

These are the steps I use to write a
novel including the five discrete parts of a novel:

Here is the cover proposal for Blue
Rose: Enchantment and the Detective.

Cover
Proposal

The most important scene in any
novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising
action. I am continuing to write on my 30th novel, working
title Red Sonja. I finished my 29th novel, working
title Detective. I’m planning to start on number 31, working
title Shifter.

How to begin a novel. Number one thought, we need an entertaining
idea. I usually encapsulate such an idea
with a theme statement. Since I’m
writing a new novel, we need a new theme statement. Here is an initial cut.

For novel 30: Red Sonja, a Soviet spy, infiltrates the
X-plane programs at Edwards AFB as a test pilot’s administrative clerk, learns
about freedom, and is redeemed.

For novel 31: TBD

Here
is the scene development outline:

1.
Scene input (comes from the previous scene output or is an initial scene)

4.
Write the scene using the output and creative elements to build the tension.

5.
Write the release

6.
Write the kicker

Today: I’m off to Japan and
actually Tokyo again. This time I’m
going to see my son and daughter-in-law again, but with the addition of a brand
new grandchild Rinley.

Still
on the way and what can I write? On
American Airlines in the premier economy class.
I can recommend the premier economy class for stuff. You get a wider and better seat. You get foot rests and an amenity pack. You get slippers—the slippers are great. You also are supposed to get a meal choice
guaranteed, but let me tell you about that.
We either had the stewardess from he double toothpicks, or she just
needed more training—or both.

The
SfH (stewardess from He double toothpicks) messed up the meals and then tried
to foist crap on us—we complained and she made it work somehow. She keep dropping stuff, couldn’t find it in
her cart, and keep hitting people. The
service was slapdash especially by this flight attendant. The others were more attentive, competent,
and helpful. In any case, this lady made
the service seem poor, but the flight was alright.

American
has poor selections for movies compared to Delta. We intend to use these seats for European
travel, but use the first of business class for long travel. There is more, but I’ll give it to you
tomorrow for the arrival.

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but my primary
publisher has gone out of business—they couldn’t succeed in the past business
and publishing environment. I'll keep you informed, but I need a new publisher. More
information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.
Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon.
This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in
installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in
addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel
was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and
tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this
blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example
of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll
keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my
writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production
schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

The four plus one basic rules I
employ when writing:

1. Don't confuse your readers.

2. Entertain your readers.

3. Ground your readers in the
writing.

4. Don't show (or tell) everything.

4a. Show what can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, and tasted on the stage
of the novel.

5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

These are the steps I use to write a
novel including the five discrete parts of a novel:

Here is the cover proposal for Blue
Rose: Enchantment and the Detective.

Cover
Proposal

The most important scene in any
novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising
action. I am continuing to write on my 30th novel, working
title Red Sonja. I finished my 29th novel, working
title Detective. I’m planning to start on number 31, working
title Shifter.

How to begin a novel. Number one thought, we need an entertaining
idea. I usually encapsulate such an idea
with a theme statement. Since I’m writing
a new novel, we need a new theme statement.
Here is an initial cut.

For novel 30: Red Sonja, a Soviet spy, infiltrates the
X-plane programs at Edwards AFB as a test pilot’s administrative clerk, learns
about freedom, and is redeemed.

For novel 31: TBD

Here
is the scene development outline:

1.
Scene input (comes from the previous scene output or is an initial scene)

4.
Write the scene using the output and creative elements to build the tension.

5.
Write the release

6.
Write the kicker

Today: I’m off to Japan and
actually Tokyo again. This time I’m
going to see my son and daughter-in-law again, but with the addition of a brand
new grandchild Rinley.

What
a great name for a little girl. Rin is
Japanese and means honorable. The –ley anglicizes
it and makes it easier from an English standpoint.

We
started our travel at 0145 and a pick up at 0230. The airline desk didn’t open until 0300 and
we were early—of course we were, there is no traffic at 0230. Check-in was fast, but TSA didn’t open until
after 0400. The efficiency is astounding
(irony). They weren’t too bad, but every
time I go through the illegal body and baggage search by the feds, it reminds
me that the fourth amendment to the Constitution completely disallows this
activity. If I weren’t fighting for
property rights already, I think I’d take this one on.

Finally,
illegally searched and seized, we had a little bite and coffee and headed to
the gate. I really should have flown us
myself. It adds complexity, but hey,
less intrusion.

We
ate again in Dallas and found some electricity.
My iPhone is slowly dying a battery death. In the beginning, it would last an entire day—now,
it barely lasts four hours. My laptop
after five years last longer.
Whatever. Now I’m sitting and
writing and charging everything.

Because
I’ll be busy with travel, Japan, and family, I’ll keep you updated about travel
and Japan. When I return, I’ll give you
more about submissions.

About Me

L. D. Alford is a novelist whose writing explores with originality those cultures and societies we think we already know. His writing distinctively develops the connections between present events and history—he combines them with threads of reality that bring the past alive. L. D. Alford is familiar with technology and cultures—he is widely traveled and earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Pacific Lutheran University, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University, a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from The University of Dayton, and is a graduate of Air War College, Air Command and Staff College, and the USAF Test Pilot School. L. D. Alford is an author who combines intimate scientific and cultural knowledge into fiction worlds that breathe reality. He is the author of three historical fiction novels: Centurion, Aegypt, and The Second Mission, and three science fiction novels: The End of Honor, The Fox’s Honor, and A Season of Honor.